Monday, May 4, 2009

Check Your Books at the Door

My friend has her children hand over their books as they walk in the door from school every day. WHAT!? you ask? Yes, it's true. The children are not allowed to read until their jobs, homework, and even sometimes playing with friends is done. She doesn't have to kick her kids off the TV or the Wii; she has to limit their reading time. I use to say that if you have to have a problem, then that's the one to have!

Until I entered her world.

Staying up two hours past bedtime...
Using the bathroom for 30+ minutes...
Setting up a camp chair in the sun because mom said "Go outside"...
Fibbing about how much homework is in the backpack...
Missing dinner and asking, "Why didn't you wait for me?"...

TO READ!

It's still not the worst problem in the world, but it can get annoying at times.

But here's the rub: I know how they feel. I would rather read than do the laundry or the dishes, too. And I stayed up until 3am one night last week to finish our bookclub book. Obviously, I'm being punished by having children take on my bad habits! :-)

Moderation in all things, right? I guess I need to adopt that as my motto.

4 comments:

David Y. said...

That's a wonderful problem to have with your kids. Way to go, mama.

Jules said...

Is there a secret? Can we swap kids for a week so I can see how that works, and you can see how it doesn't? We have to wrestle with M to read anything.

Some "bad" habits aren't so bad. AW

Janet said...

Hi Julie, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. It is just that crazy, end of the school year recital, concert, baseball games, end of school parties thing that has kept me from blogging. I know its terrible. My mom came to live with us a few days ago in her continuing recovery from her fall. Life is busy and hopefully it will slow soon! Hope all is well.

Maren said...

I'm right there with you! I grounded Ali from reading as a consequence once! It was torturous for her!!!!